We shipped our Blur TRc to Laguna Beach and it was outfitted with the newest dropping post called the Kronolog. It also got the latest Crank Brothers wheels and parts. The trails were unfamiliar to us as Hans Rey and Richie Schley took us around. But the Kronolog complemented the TRc perfectly. The TRc has a steep seat angle and it pedals well but the rider is a little bit forward on steep descents. But the dropping post puts the rider back down in a very comfortable position to tackle the unexpected.

Check out our riding video on the great San Juan trail of San Juan Capistrano, Southern California.

Skip to 5:08 for the TRc riding footage.

This review is a collaboration between Francis Cebedo and Ron Aclan. - Francis is more of an XC, singlespeed rider while Ron can air it out and ride manuals all day long.

This is the prototype for the modern trail bike. It features 5 inches of plush travel with a Fox Kashima shock. It is ultralight at 4.77 lbs frame weight but stiff, strong and efficient. It has the latest evolution of the trail bike geometry with a slack head angle for control, a steep seat angle for pedaling efficiency, low bb for handling and short stays for climbing. What you’re left with is an incredibly versatile bike that can be a 22 lb. race bike or a 27 lb. do anything ride.

Downsides:

The frame is not cheap at $2700 and the kits Santa Cruz offers are not very imaginative with triple chainrings and ultralight front tires. This bike does not embrace the modern technologies like rear post brake mounts, rear maxle or oversized bottom brackets. This bike sticks with older but proven concepts and focuses on frame construction design and manufacturing techniques. Also, the BB is low at 13.1 inches so while it’s ideal for some areas of the country like the West Coast, it may not work out everywhere.

Matte finish on the green black is very current and seems to look better with age.

Grease ports and leading edge frame bearing design – no creaks!

Geometry Notes:

16.9″ chainstay vs. 17.0″ on the Blur LTC

23″ Top Tube vs. 22.5″ on LTC

68 degree head angle vs. 68.1 on LTC

Build Notes:

The build SPX XC build is very light and suited for cross country racing. It has a triple front chainring and ultralight tubes and Maxxis Crossmark tires. The bike weighed in under 25 lbs without pedals.

The founder of mtbr and roadbikereview, Francis Cebedo believes that every cyclist has a lot to teach and a lot to learn. "Our websites are communal hubs for sharing cycling experiences, trading adventure stories, and passing along product information and opinions." Francis' favorite bike is the last bike he rode, whether it's a dirt jumper, singlespeed, trail bike, lugged commuter or ultralight carbon road steed. Indeed, Francis loves cycling in all its forms and is happiest when infecting others with that same passion. Francis also believes that IPA will save America.

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